Bihar introduces French and German courses in 15 govt engineering colleges

Foreign language courses in French and German have been introduced across 15 government engineering colleges in Bihar under the Department of Science, Technology, and Technical Education (DSTTE), marking a key initiative to prepare students for global opportunities.

The program was formally launched on May 13 during an online event chaired by Chief Secretary Amrit Lal Meena.

The virtual inauguration, held at the Chief Secretary’s conference hall in Patna, was attended by DSTTE Secretary Dr Pratima, as well as principals, faculty, and students from all 38 government engineering colleges, who joined the session remotely.

Dr Pratima gave a detailed presentation outlining the program’s goals, implementation strategy, and future plans.

While currently in its pilot stage, the initiative is expected to be extended to all government engineering institutions in Bihar.

Emphasizing the value of foreign language skills in the global job market, Meena drew on his own background in technical education.

He said, “Knowledge of languages such as French, German, and Japanese significantly improves cross-cultural communication, international employability, and academic mobility.”

He acknowledged the transformation in Bihar’s technical education sector over the past decade, attributing it to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s 2015 vision.

“Under the guiding principle of Aarthik Bal, Yuvaon Ka Hal (Economic Stability, Solutions for Youth), Bihar has witnessed advancements in infrastructure, curriculum reform, and faculty appointments,” Meena said.

He further noted that introducing foreign languages would boost students’ global engagement and recommended the addition of Japanese to strengthen ties with East Asian industries.

The chief secretary encouraged the DSTTE to pursue academic partnerships through MoUs with international universities, enabling student exchange, joint research, and immersive language learning.

“With such steps, Bihar’s engineering colleges are on the path to becoming Institutes of National Eminence,” Meena remarked.

The launch featured live student demonstrations of French and German introductions, offering a glimpse into the early impact of the program.

The DSTTE continues to focus on capacity-building efforts aimed at improving academic standards and employability across Bihar’s technical institutions.